Towson University was one of the charter members of Coastal Athletic Association Football when the league was formed in 2005 and is one of four schools that have battled for CAA glory every non-COVID year since the inaugural season of 2007.

The others are Maine, New Hampshire and Rhode Island, and they’ve all found mixed success over the years.

Towson claimed a pair of CAA titles along the way and made three trips to the NCAA Division I FCS Championship, but it has been almost a decade since the Tigers have appeared in a playoff game.

Pete Shinnick has been the man in charge at Towson since 2023, and he has kept things steady while leading the team to an 18-17 overall record, but is this going to be the year he and the Tigers have a breakout season?

Fans once again can follow the team’s progress on FloCollege and the FloSports app, which will be broadcasting all Towson home and CAA games.

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Shinnick definitely has the credentials to build a successful program, and he arrived in Maryland with two decades of head coaching experience at the collegiate level.

If his name sounds familiar, it’s because he recently built the University of West Florida football program from the ground up and led the Argonauts to a Division II national title in 2019.

The timeline was quick, too. 

Shinnick was hired in 2014 as the team’s first head coach. UWF played its first game in 2016. The Argos were the national runners-up to Texas A&M-Commerce in 2017. 

The national championship came shortly after, followed by Gulf South titles in 2021 and 2022. Shinnick led the team to four postseason appearances overall.

But what will it take for all that success to translate to the FCS level? How many years is the right number to get comfortable and surround himself with the right coaches and players?

In Shinnick’s three seasons at Towson, the Tigers have been 5-6 (4-4), 7-5 (5-3) and 6-6 (4-4).

As we prepare for the start of the 2026 college football season, here are a few things to know about Towson University football and the CAA:

Towson Football – Through The Years (Division III, Division II)

Towson University was founded in 1866, but it was more than a century until the Tigers made their varsity football debut. That came at the Division III level in 1969 and under the guidance of Carl Runk, who lasted just three seasons.

Phil Albert took over in 1972 and went from 1-9 that year to the Division III national runner-up in 1976. He coached through 1991 and helped the team to the playoffs four times (1976, 1983, 1984, 1986).

The Tigers played in Division III from 1969-1978 and Division II from 1979-1986. They made the move to Division I-AA/FCS in 1987, and what followed was more than two decades of quiet.

Towson Football – The Division I FCS Years

The Tigers broke through the long silence in 2011.

They won the 2011 CAA title outright and became the first team in NCAA history to make the playoffs in Division III, Division II and Division I FCS.

The Tigers earned an automatic bid as the conference champions, which came with a first-round bye. Unfortunately, that’s where the momentum ended, and the Tigers lost to Lehigh in the second round, 40-38.

The following season, Towson was part of a four-way tie for the CAA title but was not one of the three CAA teams in the playoff bracket.

The next year, the Tigers returned to action with something to prove and turned in one of the strongest performances from a Towson team.

The Tigers rolled through the 2013 regular season, winning at least 10 games for the first time since 1983, finished tied for second place in the CAA and earned a spot in the playoffs – with another first-round bye.

Towson then defeated Fordham (48-28), Eastern Illinois (49-39) and Eastern Washington (35-31), before falling to North Dakota State in the championship game (35-7). It was the third of five consecutive national titles for NDSU. Towson closed the year at 13-3.

Did You Know: Towson Football Has An Established Rivalry

A decade after the emergence of Towson football, the Tigers got their first rival – the other team from the Baltimore area, Morgan State.

The Tigers and Bears met for the first time in 1979, and Morgan State won the first three installments of The Battle for Greater Baltimore.

Towson then took control of the series, which was a little more sporadic after 1987. 

The Tigers won nine consecutive times from 1982-1998 and now own a 24-6 record against the Bears, including their last nine clashes. 

Since 2021, they have played every year, and the next chapter between the two will take place at Towson on Sept. 19. It’s a showdown between the two closest teams in FCS football, as they’re separated by just 4.6 miles.

Towson won last year at Morgan State, 27-22.

How Did The Towson Perform Overall In 2025?

Towson was picked to finish fifth in the CAA in 2025, but the Tigers fell a little short of that prediction as one of three teams that were 4-4 in conference play. Six of the 14 CAA teams finished 5-3 or better.

Towson’s season started with a pair of wins and ended with two more. Overall, the Tigers were 6-6, and there is some additional good news. 

Freshman quarterback Andrew Indorf was the conference’s Co-Offensive Rookie of the Year, and he’ll be back in action in 2026. 

Indorf, now 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, threw for 2,344 yards and 16 touchdowns last year, while only being picked off four times. That gave Towson the fewest interceptions in the CAA.

The true freshman started all 12 games for Towson and completed 187 of 314 passes. He also rushed for 108 yards on 73 attempts. 

Indorf, a finalist for the Jerry Rice Award (given to the top freshman in the FCS), was one of nine Towson players to earn postseason recognition from the CAA.

Among them was senior kicker Caden Williams, who was a finalist for the 2025 Fred Mitchell Award, which is given to the year’s top placekicker. He connected on 15 of 17 field goal attempts and was 36 for 36 on extra points. 

Additionally, 11 Towson players earned Phil Steele Postseason CAA All-Conference nods – four on the second team, one on the third team, three on the fourth team and three on the fifth team. 

2025 CAA Award Winners From Towson

• *Andrew Indorf, QB, Fr. – Co-Offensive Rookie of the Year
• Xavier Terry, S, Gr. – First-Team Defense
• Myles Brodie, CB, Gr. – Second-Team Defense
• Bryce LaFollette, P, Jr. – Second-Team Defense
• John Dunmore, WR, Gr. – Third-Team Offense
• Dan Volpe, OL, Sr. – Third-Team Offense
• Jaceon Doss, WR, RS-Jr. – Honorable Mention
• Caden Williams, K/P, Sr., Honorable Mention
• Alfred Thomas, LB, So., Honorable Mention

*On 2026 roster

2025 Towson Football Results

• Aug. 28 (Thu): San Diego State 42, Stony Brook 0 (L)
• Sept. 6 (Sat): Rhode Island 31, Stony Brook 17 (L)
• Sept. 13 (Sat): Stony Brook 41, Fordham 18 (W)
• Sept. 20 (Sat): Lindenwood 30, Stony Brook 27 (L)
• Sept. 27 (Sat): Stony Brook 35, Merrimack 10 (W)
• Oct. 4 (Sat): Stony Brook 47, UAlbany 12 (W)
• Oct. 18 (Sat): Monmouth 49, Stony Brook 21 (L)
• Oct. 25 (Sat): Stony Brook 27, Towson 19 (W)
• Nov. 1 (Sat): Maine 28, Stony Brook 21 (L)
• Nov. 8 (Sat): Stony Brook 38, North Carolina A&T 12 (W)
• Nov. 15 (Sat): Villanova 30, Stony Brook 27 (L)
• Nov. 22 (Sat): Stony Brook 35, Bryant 28 (W)

A Look At The CAA And Towson University Football In 2026

Shinnick and the Tigers were aggressive during the offseason.

The December signing period saw Towson land 11 players who will be freshmen for the 2026 season. 

Then, with the collegiate transfer window open from Jan. 2-16, the Towson roster grew by another 18 players, all of whom were expected to be on the field for the spring semester.

Two days later, on Feb. 4, National Signing Day brought in four more freshmen for the upcoming campaign. 

As the only award-winning player back for the Tigers, there will be a lot of pressure on Indorf, and despite only being a sophomore, he’ll likely be looked to as a veteran leader on the offensive side of the ball.

Expectations for him are high around the league, too, as he earned a CAA Preseason All-Conference honorable mention, along with long snapper Daniel Anderla. 

Senior offensive lineman KJ Brooks also was recognized and was the only Towson player named to the 2026 CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team. 

As a team, Towson was picked to finish sixth in the CAA, which now includes 13 teams. 

The Tigers won’t be wasting any time getting down to business in 2026. Their first game will be a conference matchup with Maine. The two haven’t met since 2019, in Maine, and Towson won that game 45-23. They played for the first time in 1979, and Maine holds an 8-7 advantage.

Towson Football Schedule For 2026

All Times Eastern

• Aug. 27 (Thu): 6 p.m. vs. Maine*
• Sept. 5 (Sat): 3:30 p.m. at Navy
• Sept. 12 (Sat): 7 p.m. at South Carolina
• Sept. 19 (Sat): 6 p.m. vs. Morgan State
• Sept. 26 (Sat): 6 p.m. at Delaware State
• Oct. 3 (Sat): 1 p.m. at Monmouth*
• Oct. 10 (Sat): 4 p.m. vs. Stony Brook*
• Oct. 17 (Sat): 3:30 p.m. at Campbell*
• Oct. 31 (Sat): 1 p.m. vs. Hampton*
• Nov. 7 (Sat): Noon at Sacred Heart*
• Nov. 14 (Sat): Noon at Rhode Island*
• Nov. 21 (Sat): 1 p.m. vs. Elon*

*CAA games

Predicted Order Of Finish For CAA Teams In 2026

1. Rhode Island (12 first-place votes), 144
2. Monmouth, 119
3. Elon, 115
4. New Hampshire, 106
5. Stony Brook (1 first-place vote), 105
6. Towson, 93
7. Maine, 88
8. Campbell, 56
9. Bryant, 50
10. Sacred Heart, 49
11. UAlbany, 35
12. North Carolina A&T, 28
13. Hampton, 26

*Villanova and William & Mary left the CAA for the Patriot League, and Sacred Heart joins the CAA for the 2026 season. 

Order Of Finish For CAA Teams In 2025

CAA (Overall)

• Rhode Island: 8-0 (11-3)
• Villanova: 7-1 (12-3)
• New Hampshire: 6-2 (8-5)
• Monmouth: 6-2 (9-3)
• William & Mary: 6-2 (7-5)
• Maine: 5-3 (6-6)
• Elon: 4-4 (6-6)
• Stony Brook: 4-4 (6-6)
• Towson: 4-4 (6-6)
• Campbell: 2-6 (2-10)
• North Carolina A&T: 2-6 (2-10)
• Bryant: 1-7 (3-9)
• UAlbany: 1-7 (2-10)
• Hampton: 0-8 (2-10)

Final AFCA Division I FCS Coaches Poll For 2025 Season

1. Montana St. (14-2)
2. Illinois St. (12-5)
3. Montana (13-2)
4. Villanova (12-3)
5. North Dakota St. (12-1)
6. Tarleton St. (12-2)
7. Stephen F. Austin (11-3)
8. UC Davis (9-4)
9. Lehigh (12-1)
10. Rhode Island (11-3)
11. South Dakota (10-5)
12. ACU (9-5)
13. Yale (9-3)
14. South Dakota St. (9-5)
15. Tennessee Tech (11-2)
16. North Dakota (8-6)
17. Youngstown St. (8-5)
18. Mercer (9-3)
19. Southeastern Louisiana (9-4)
20. Monmouth (N.J.) (9-3)
21. Lamar (8-5)
22. Jackson St. (9-3)
23. Harvard (9-2)
24. West Georgia (8-3)
25. South Carolina St. (10-3)

Dropped Out: Southern Illinois (25)

Others Receiving Votes: New Hampshire, 35; Lafayette, 30; Southern Illinois, 29; Drake, 20; UT Rio Grande Valley, 20; Prairie View A&M, 16; Central Connecticut St., 15; Richmond, 15; Alabama St., 10; Presbyterian, 10; Southern Utah, 5; Austin Peay, 2.

Some Things To Know About FCS Football

The FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) is the second tier of NCAA Division I football, with the top tier being the FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision). 

While the FBS determines its national champion through a 12-team, committee-selected College Football Playoff, the FCS Championship includes 24 teams.

The FCS conference champions automatically qualify for the playoffs, and the remaining spots are filled via at-large selection. 

This season, there will be 128 programs across 13 conferences. The regular season will begin in late August, and the playoffs will get underway at the end of November. 

Who Won The Each Football National Championship For The 2025-2026 Season?

• Division I FBS – Indiana def. Miami, 27-21
• Division I FCS – Montana State def. Illinois State 35-34 (OT)
• Division II – Ferris State def. Harding, 42-21
• Division III – University of Wisconsin-River Falls def. North Central (Ill.), 24-14

When Do The 2026 NCAA Division I FCS Playoffs Start?

The first round of the 2026 NCAA FCS Playoffs will be Nov. 28.

The format includes 24 teams and five rounds of play – first round, second round, quarterfinals, semifinals and the championship game. Everything through the semifinals will be played at the site of the participating schools.

Round 2 is set for Dec. 5, the quarterfinals will be held Dec. 11 (one game) and Dec. 12 (three games) and the semifinals will take place Dec. 19.

The 2026 FCS national championship will be determined Jan. 11, 2027, at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Music City first hosted the title tilt in 2025 after 15 consecutive visits to Frisco, Texas.

Every game will be broadcast live on the ESPN family of networks. 

How Do The FCS Playoffs Work?

The 24 FCS teams that advance to the playoffs are situated into a single-elimination bracket.

The top 16 teams are seeded, with the first eight earning byes into the second round. Seeds 9-16 must play in the opening round of action, but they get to play host, as do the higher seeds in each game through the semifinals.

The two semifinal winners then make the trip to Nashville to play for the national championship.

In 2025, Montana State defeated Illinois State 35-34 in overtime to claim the trophy. 

Since 2011, North Dakota State had been dominating the FCS landscape, winning 10 national titles, but the Bison have now moved to a bigger pasture – the FBS level as part of the Mountain West Conference.

Monmouth Football Highlights vs. Towson | 2025 CAA Football

Check out the highlights from the 2025 CAA matchup between Towson and Monmouth.

The game took place Oct. 11, and Monmouth used a 14-point fourth-quarter surge to win 42-31.

Archived Footage On FloCollege

Video footage from all games will be archived and stored in a video library for FloCollege subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

Watch The 2026 College Football Season On FloCollege

FloCollege is the home of the best FCS, Division II and Division III football action all season long. 

Don’t miss the latest college football action by bookmarking the FloCollege schedule page for the latest games. 

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